Hi,

I had Minou, my baby cat, for about 16 months. I found him on the street, right next to a bar near my house. He didn't look like a street cat, but it was 10:30pm and very cold out. When I spoke to the bar workers, they said he had been there for at least 8 hours. Not knowing what to do, I took him in for the night. The next day, I put up some "Found Cat" posters, and treated him as my own.

3 weeks later, I get a call from a gentleman who knew the cats owner. After explaining the care I had given to him (vaccines, medical checkup, etc...) he said that I had taken care of the cat more than the previous owner, who would let him out at the beginning of each day, and let him in at night. He said he would speak to the cats owner to see what she wanted, and less than 10mins later, he called back and said that he was mine.

From then on, he was my constant companion over the past year, being there for me when I lost my job, when I've had bad depression days, and when I just needed a few minutes to listen to him purr. He always enjoyed a belly rub (he had the softest belly fur), and would constantly remind you it was dinner time, even when it wasn't.

On Sunday (16 Feb), I got home to him being his usual energetic self. He was crying for food, which I made sure to provide, however he only ate half of it, and threw up the other half. I didn't think much of this until he started throwing up bile throughout the night. In the morning, he was hiding from me.

I took him to the vet, and after doing some blood work and keeping an eye on him, they recommended I take him to the vet hospital. I hurried him over there, and after a few medical tests, they diagnosed him with Acute Pancreatitis. This was so sudden, he had never complained or hid from me before, so I was hoping it would be something minor that the hospital would be able to take care of.

Over the course of the following days, his condition worsened. He wasn't drinking water, wasn't eating, his blood pressure was lower, his lungs had started taking on fluids, and he was very lethargic. When I visited him on Wednesday, he was all dozy and sleepy, but when they ran his number again, his blood pressure looked to have increased, as well as his calcium levels. He was responding to me being there. When they called on Thursday, his numbers has worsened, he was no longer responding to medication, his blood pressure was a lot lower, and he was breathing rapidly due to the fluid in his lungs.

On Thursday, at 1:15pm, with him securely in my arms, Minou crossed over the rainbow bridge. He brightened up everyone he had ever met, everyone that had seen his photos (which I posted constantly to my friends), and most of all, brightened up my world.

The medical staff did his best to save him, and make him comfortable, but it was not meant to be.

Unfortunately, I am now burdened with $9700 worth of vet bills. $1100 for the primary consultation at the vet (including bloodwork and IV drips), and $8600 for the hospital stay (including medication and care). I did not have pet insurance, and am currently unemployed. Anything you can provide to help me pay for his vet bills would mean the world to me.

He was my precious baby boy, and he will always be with me.